Library eBooks now available for Amazon® Kindle

OverDrive is pleased to announce that Amazon® Kindle compatibility with your U.S. public or school library’s eBook collection is here. See the press release. This update, which is included at no additional cost to OverDrive partner libraries, allows most existing eBooks in your library’s collection to be read on all Kindle devices or by using free Kindle apps for iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and other mobile devices.

OverDrive is quickly updating all U.S. public and school library partner websites to support Kindle compatibility and will complete this update as soon as possible. Sections of your website, including My Help wizard, Help pages and FAQs, will also reflect these changes and help new Kindle users.

Here is the process for checking out a library eBook for Kindle:

Visit your library’s ‘Virtual Branch’ website

Browse and check out a Kindle book.

Click the ‘Get for Kindle’ button. This opens the Amazon.com website. You may be required to sign in with your Amazon.com account if you are not already logged in.

Select a Kindle device or Kindle reading app. Click the ‘Get library book’ button and sync your device or app to download the book, or choose to send it to your device via USB.

Kindle compatibility with library eBooks also takes full advantage of Amazon’s Whispersync technology. If you check out the eBook again at a later date or choose to purchase the eBook from the Kindle Store, all of your notes, bookmarks and highlights will be preserved. The last page read will also be synced between your Kindle and free Kindle reading apps.

For more details, please check the Help pages and FAQs on your library’s web site.

Brianne Carlon is a public relations specialist at OverDrive.

84 Responses to “Library eBooks now available for Amazon® Kindle”

Yay!!! So excited this is finally happening. I’ve been putting off buying an e-reader because of this. I think it’s a win-win for everyone. Amazon will end up getting more people buying ebooks, libraries will get more people using their services, and Overdrive will benefit as well. I have some overdue library books to return today and will be giving a donation check along with paying my fine just as a thank you for providing such a great service.

I cannot get the book to download if I am using the iPhone for the entire process. I have successfully downloaded a Kindle format onto the iPad when following the entire process on teh iPad…but the when using the iPhone (and my Droid friends had the same problem)..we get stuck on the Amazon page with a download that never finishes. We get the spinning disc, then nothing. I have seen nothing in your promotional material that warns of this…we librarians will be explaining this quirk to a lot of customers. I know that the work around is to be on Amazon’s page on a PC and send the item to the mobile device…but many library customers these days do not own PC’s; they do all their online on their mobile devices.

I have echo Pat’s issue above. We deal with many patrons who access content exclusively through their mobile devices, and clicking “Get for Kindle” from the Downloads page takes you the an Amazon page with a “Click to Buy” button in lieu of the “Get library book” button. Dangerous territory. This happened on both iOS and Droid.

ALSO– is there any way to get an Advanced Search option added the mobile-formatted MyMediaMall website? Without advanced searching options, the mobile-formatted MyMediaMall website is utterly useless for anything other than browsing.

Can’t wait for you to activate Manchester, NH! I went to the site as soon as I heard the news, but sadly, no Kindle update yet. Please add it soon! As soon as I see it’s live, I’ll put the word out to everyone I can in the area.

I could not check out any eBook titles on my Android at all using the “Get eBooks” feature. I got the message “these formats are not available on your device”. When I switched to the desktop view on my mobile phone, I had the same experience as others have stated above. Where I was sucessful was using my desktop, checking out a Kindle eBook and receiving the message that the next time I synced my Android, my book would be available. The book was there on my Kindle app under archive. Hope this helps the support team, as I know we would all like the experience to be sucessful for our Kindle owning or app patrons.

Hi Leslie, sorry for the issues you experienced. At this time, Kindle books cannot be downloaded directly on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows phones. As a result, users will not be able to browse or checkout Kindle books on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows phones; however, Kindle Books can still be sent to the Kindle Reading App from a desktop or tablet. Kindle books are supported on the iPad and Android tablets running v3.0 (or newer). OverDrive has removed the ‘Switch to Desktop’ link on our mobile sites. This was done to prevent users from trying to check out a Kindle title from their device as Amazon cannot support the library loan feature on their mobile website. -Brianne

About Whispersync, I just highlighted a sentence and added a note in an Overdrive ebook, then returned the ebook early, then checked it out again. It did not retain my highlight & note, nor my last page read. How is this supposed to work?

#7 Pat & # 16 Stephen K – I have same issues. “An Amazon page with a “Click to Buy” button in lieu of the “Get library book” button. Dangerous territory.” I get same results on my iPhone. I am getting questions from our users and am unable to assist them.
I am so excited to have the capability to use my Kindle with OverDrive, now if I could get it to work…

OK great news for US library patrons in the US but when is it coming to UK Libraries?
Amazon just launched their new version Kindle in the UK too (but not the FIRE) so I’m sure many of our library customers in Edinburgh will receive a Kindle for Christmas, particularly given the price point. We wan’t these residents to access our library content.

Excited to use this service. Confusing instructions, but just did download a book. Instructions were so confusing that I don’t think I can do it again. I tried. Maybe they could make the instructions easier. Perhaps this 5th grade teacher could help with making easy-to-use instructions.

Brianne…I also wondered why I wasn’t able to browse and checkout Kindle books on my iPhone. I would like to buy the new $99 Kindle with wireless for my children for Christmas but admit that it will be a pain if they’re not able to check out Kindle books right from their Kindles. Do you know whether you can browse and checkout Kindle books directly from a Kindle with wifi?

Hello Kim. At this time, you will be able to deliver eBooks to your Kindle or free Kindle apps from a PC or Mac. We hope to expand mobile access in the future. Please keep checking back for updates. -Brianne

Hi Michelle: An active Wi-Fi connection is required for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. If your Kindle is not Wi-Fi capable or you do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, read Amazon’s instructions for transferring files via USB. Please write support@overdrive.com if you are having trouble doing so. -Brianne

Hi
Your instructions for getting a public library book onto the kindle app for iPad seems to require me to connect my iPad to the computer and sync. The only thing I know how to sync with is iTunes. This does not seems to work.

“Select a Kindle device or Kindle reading app. Click the ‘Get library book’ button and sync your device or app to download the book, or choose to send it to your device via USB.”

I can get the deliver to my … Page on my iPad and it shows my iPad in the list of devices to deliver to. Can I utilize the wifi connection? When I try this a message saying successfully delivered comes up, but nowhere can I find the book. Have even looked in the archived list – nothing.

Hi Bill, sorry for the issue you are experiencing. The Kindle book should be delivered to your iPad Kindle app via wifi and show up when you sync. I am sending your information to our support team and they will help figure this out. Thanks for writing. -Brianne

I work in the Idaho Springs Public Library, in Idaho Springs, CO. We are frequently asked how patrons can check their e-books (on their Kindle) back in early.
Relying on the automatic return at the end of the lending period limits the number of e-books fast readers can use.
So please help me help them…how do they return books early from their Kindles?

Hello Bob, Here are basic instructions for returning Kindle titles early: Log into your Amazon Account and click on Manage Your Kindle. In your queue of titles, click on the Action button on the right and select Return this book. Hope this helps! -Brianne

Using the Dolphin HD web-browser on an Android 2.2 device, I was able to set the user agent to “Desktop” and complete the checkout process without resorting to a desktop PC. The user agent is set under Settings -> Dolphin Settings -> User Agent. The Dolphin browser is available in both the Android Market and the Apple App Store (though I haven’t test it on an iOS device).

Hi Bill, Here are basic instructions for returning Kindle titles early: Log into your Amazon Account and click on Manage Your Kindle. In your queue of titles, click on the Action button on the right and select Return this book. Hope this helps! -Brianne

The initial rollout of Kindle titles was great. Now we are seeing some books available as EPUB only (Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 for instance). Will these titles eventually have Kindle counterparts or is it something to do with the publisher (Knopf). Thanks!

Hi Brad, Amazon and OverDrive are working together to have all newly published content updated with Kindle availability. We expect to have the catalog refreshed with additional availability of Kindle titles in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience. -Brianne

Was nice. The authors that had kindle book available to borrow from the library are no longer available. I had kindle books on a hold but when the became available this weekend the kindle format was no longer availabe. There are still kindle books availabe in the library but not for the author I want.

Hi Alison, at this time you will need to check out a title with your library card using a desktop or laptop computer. The Kindle book will then be transferred wirelessly to your Kindle (with Wi-Fi) or Kindle Fire after you ‘Get for Kindle.’ -Brianne

My husband loves audiobooks and I have taught him how to get them to his iPod. I got him a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I cannot get a clear answer if he will be able to get audiobooks on the Fire. Can you help?

I have been unable to get Overdrive’s eBooks to download directly to Kindles that have keyboards at the bottom (Kindle Basic). Once I get to the point that moves from Overdrive to Amazon (Get it on Kindle) it says that multiple browser pages are not supported. Is there a way to get around this?

I have successfully downloaded things onto Kindle Fire. Our other patrons with Kindles, however, are understandably upset that they would have to use a computer. Many of our patrons bought their kindles to use instead of computers. Also is there any word on when other eReaders will support direct downloads?

Hello Autumn, I have sent the details of your issue to our support team who should be contacting you with a solution. Patrons with a Kindle Fire can browse, check out and download on the device be simply visiting your library website in their browser. The Sony Wi-Fi also supports direct downloads. -Brianne

I have been unable to get Overdrive’s eBooks to download directly to Kindles that have keyboards at the bottom (Kindle Basic). Once I get to the point that moves from Overdrive to Amazon (Get it on Kindle) it says that multiple browser pages are not supported. Is there a way to get around this?

Brianne, I hope I am not asking a question you have already answered. I have a Fire, and cannot find an Android app for Overdrive. Is it coming soon? Is there a workaround to get a library book down to my Fire? I want eBooks, not audio files.

At this time, the OMC for Android app is not supported on the Kindle Fire. You can download Kindle formats to your device by taking the following steps:

1. Visit the website of a U.S. library that offers digital services from OverDrive.
2. Check out a Kindle book (library card required).
3. Click on “Get for Kindle.” You will then be directed to Amazon.com to redeem your public library loan. You may be required to login to your Amazon.com account — or create a new account — if you’re not already logged in.
4. Choose to read the book on your Kindle device, free reading app, or Kindle Cloud Reader.

I received a Kindle Fire for Christmas and have placed holds on library ebooks, checked them out, read them and returned them all directly from my Kindle Fire device.
I’m very happy with the large selection of ebooks available from my library in Kindle format ( using Overdrive).
It was a little tricky to figure out the process at first, but my library emailed me step by step instructions on how to place holds, check out, and return Kindle editions. I love my Kindle Fire!

Good question, Nancy. To return a Kindle book, log in to you account at Amazon.com, select “Your Account,” then select the “Manage My Kindle” link under Digital Content. From there, choose the drop-down menu next to the appropriate title and select the option to return to library. (It’s not yet possible to return titles directly from Kindle.) ~Mike

Is there a work around available for Kindle basic users to download ebooks directly using wifi (ie. not via their computers). I saw this issue brought up several times, but wasn’t sure what the final answer was. I’m a librarian and would like to better help my patrons. Thank you!

Hi Lydia-
As you’ve discovered, Kindle basic users currently must browse and check out titles using a computer-based browser before downloading to their device. We’ll keep you posted on any updates.
Best,
Mike

I was able to download a book from our local library (Lincoln City Library) , but I am told “cannot open file” The file has a .odm designation. What should I be using to open it? How do I get an app for this?
Thanks,
RuthAnn

Hi Brenda- Kindle-format eBooks are currently only available to library patrons in the United States. We hope that the success of the Kindle program for U.S. libraries will allow us to build out to international partners. Unfortunately, we do not have further details at this time. Best, Mike

Hi Irene, you can access your digital libraries from anywhere in the world. So when you’re in the UK you can still access the kindle titles from your Florida library. Simply log on with your library card and you’ll be all set!